Thigh Lift

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Weight loss, gravity, and aging can all take a toll on the body, and the legs are no exception. The thighs may no longer appear smooth and lean. Instead, there may be excess skin that droops. This can make patients feel uncomfortable when the weather is warm, because they are embarrassed to put on shorts or wear a swimsuit.

No amount of dieting and exercise will be able to combat excess skin on the thighs. Especially if the excess skin is an effect of massive weight loss. However, a thigh lift can give patients the smooth leg contour they desire.

At Cosmetic Surgery Associates, we are highly skilled in helping patients reclaim their bodies and boost their confidence. Request a consultation with Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, or Dr. Richards in Bethesda, MD today to get started!

What is a Thigh Lift?

The thighs are a common problem area for many people. They can be difficult to keep firm, let alone to firm and smooth after they have already accumulated excess skin and fat. A thigh lift removes excess skin from the thighs in order to improve the contour and the proportion of the lower body. Often, a thigh lift is performed in combination with liposuction in order to offer the most comprehensive results. In some cases, when a patient has good skin elasticity, they may not require a thigh lift but can achieve their desired results with liposuction alone. Thighs appear slimmer and smoother following a thigh lift procedure with one of our board certified surgeons.

Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, and Dr. Richards are all highly skilled at performing thighplasty and are some of the top plastic surgeons in the greater Washington, D.C area. Contact the offices of Cosmetic Surgery Associates today to request your consultation!

Benefits of a Thigh Lift

Long lasting results

Clothing will fit better

Patients feel more confident in shorts and skirts

Decreased exposure to chafing or skin irritation

Improved hygiene

Improved mobility and ability to exercise

Improved quality of life and self confidence

Good Candidates

Healthy woman and men with excess skin on their inner and outer thighs may be good candidates if they’ve tried slimming their thighs through diet and exercise, but are not getting the results they desire. This is because skin cannot tight once stretched to a certain point. Thighplasty can be an especially attractive operation for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight. These specific patients may want to consider combining a thigh lift with a body lift, tummy tuck, or another one of our many body contouring procedures.

Prospective candidates should be at a stable weight and within close range of their weight loss goal. They should be in good health, be nonsmokers, and should not have any medical conditions that increases their surgical risk or ability to heal following surgery.

Patients should have realistic goals and expectations for the procedure and have a thorough understanding of what a thigh lift can and cannot accomplish. This will be explained during the consultation. Furthermore, they should be committed to leading a healthy lifestyle following the procedure in order to maintain their results.

Ultimately, the best way to find out whether or not you are a candidate for thigh lift surgery is by contacting Cosmetic Surgery Associates in Bethesda, Maryland and requesting a consultation. One of our doctors will be happy to meet with you personally, discuss your concerns, and develop a plan that will best meet your goals.

Procedure Information

A thigh lift is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The doctor will help the patient decide which type of anesthesia works best for them.

Inner thigh lift incision

For patients having an inner thigh lift, the doctor will begin by making an incision that begins at the groin. The incision will either continue around to the back of the thigh or down to the knee, depending on the patient’s areas of concern. For patients who only require a mild lift, the doctor may be able to perform the surgery only using a small incision along the groin.

Outer thigh lift incision

For patients having an outer thigh lift, the doctor will begin by making an incision that begins at the groin and extends around the hip. These incisions are made in locations so that any resulting scars will be hidden by most clothing, including underwear and bathing suits.

Depending on the patient’s unique case, the doctor may perform liposuction in order to further contour the thighs. Then, the doctor will remove excess skin from the thighs so that they look and feel smoother and slimmer.

Finally, the doctor will close the incisions. He will properly bandage the surgical site and then the patient will be taken into a recovery room. The patient will be monitored as they wake up from surgery.

We ask all patients to make prior arrangements for a responsible adult to pick them up and drive them home after the procedure. The patient should also have somebody stay with them for the first 24 hours following surgery to help them with anything they may require.

Recovery

Following the surgery, the doctor will place dressing and bandages on the incision sites. In some cases, patients may also require small tubes to drain excess fluid.

The most common side effects following thigh lift surgery include swelling, bruising, and some discomfort. This is normal and will dissipate on its own over the course of 1-2 weeks. Patients will be provided with prescription medication to help ease any discomfort during this time.

Approximately one week after surgery, patients will be asked to return to Cosmetic Surgery Associates for a follow-up appointment. At this time, the Cosmetic Surgery Associates staff will meet with the patient to assess their recovery state and provide them with additional recuperation details to ensure that they achieve their optimal results. They may also remove any sutures or drains at this point.

At the time of the initial consultation, the patients will be provided with more specific instructions about their recovery from thigh lift surgery. This will include how much time to take off from work. In general, patients should plan on taking 2-3 weeks off from work in order to recover properly.

Thighplasty Results

Following surgery, patients will be able to see improved shape immediately. However, results will continue to improve as swelling and bruising diminishes. Beautiful, final results should be visible approximately 6-10 months after the procedure.

Scars continue to fade over time, but are placed in such a way where undergarments should cover them. Patients should continue to moisturize their thighs and apply sunscreen when they go outside in order to improve the appearance of their scars. Thigh lift results cannot combat the natural aging process; however, if a patient follows all postoperative instructions, results will be long lasting.

Consultation

The consultation is the first and, in some regards, the most important step in performing thigh lift surgery. It is during this time that the patient and the surgeon will discuss the patient’s concerns and goals. After listening to the patient and better understanding what they hope to achieve from the procedure, the doctor will ask the patient about their medical history. This will include subjects such as medications, supplements, previous surgeries, medical conditions, tobacco and drug use, and further questions about the patient’s surgical goals.

Next, the surgeon will perform a physical examination in order to assess the patient’s candidacy for surgery. They will take measurements and evaluate the skin’s elasticity. They will also take photographs for further analysis.

Once the doctor has completed his analysis, they will determine if the patient is a good fit for thighplasty. If so, they will draw up a detailed procedural plan for the patient. This will include whether or not the patient would benefit most from an inner thigh lift, outer thigh lift, liposuction, or a combination of all three.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions about your procedure or other treatments of interest during the consultation. At Cosmetic Surgery Associates, we believe that the key to a positive surgical outcome is communication from the very beginning.

Cost

The cost of a thigh lift surgery varies greatly. The procedure is tailored to fit the patient and their individual needs. Some of the factors that can influence the price of a thigh lift include anesthesia, operating room facilities, procedure techniques, and post-surgery garments. At the time of the consultation, our doctors and staff will be able to provide the patient with a detailed price estimate.

For patients interested in financing, we work with some of the top financing companies to help patients achieve their goals. At the time of the consultation, patients may also elect to meet with our office manager. Our office manager can provide more information of the financing options available, including CareCredit, Prosper Healthcare Lending, and Alphaeon credit card.

Find out more about the life changing of benefits of thigh lift surgery by contacting our office in Bethesda, MD today to schedule a consultation.